What is the effect of chest X-ray results in examination?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Le Anh Viet - Radiologist - Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine - Vinmec Times City International Hospital. Doctor Le Anh Viet has 07 years of experience working in the field of diagnostic imaging, performing well in diagnostic imaging techniques.
Cardiopulmonary X-ray is considered a routine test in the examination and treatment of many diseases, especially common diseases of the respiratory system. This non-invasive imaging method has many diagnostic and pathological implications.

1. What is a chest x-ray?

Chest x-ray is a method of using an X-ray machine capable of emitting X-rays, beaming X-rays through the chest area to obtain images of the heart, lungs, airways, blood vessels and chest lymphatic system.
When X-rays pass through the body, they will have to pass through different structures, thereby producing different images corresponding to the corresponding level of radiation. The penetrating ability of X-rays through gas is best, so it gives a bright image on X-ray film (corresponding to black), but through tissues containing fluid or through bone will be absorbed and poorly penetrated. thereby giving a fuzzy lung image (corresponding to the white color on the radiograph).
Indications for chest x-ray: When the patient has symptoms of suspected pathology in the chest area and organs inside the chest, there is an indication for chest x-ray including
Presence of persistent cough, possibly coughing dry or productive cough, coughing up blood. May be accompanied by fever, mild fever or high fever. Shortness of breath, chest pain. After a chest trauma: Can help diagnose fractures or lung parenchymal lesions, effusion, pneumothorax. Suspected cardiopulmonary disease, lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis... Advantages and disadvantages of chest x-ray:
Advantages: Non-invasive method, easy to perform, simple, low cost , fast shooting time. Help diagnose some common diseases and guide the diagnosis of other diseases in the chest area. Cons: Difficult to see small lesions or pathology in the early stages. On film, the lesion may be obscured by the shadow of the heart and ribs. A definite diagnosis cannot be made in some diseases because the internal characteristics of the lesions are not clearly seen. Accurate film results need to depend on many factors such as the skill of the photographer (whether using the correct X-ray, taking the patient's correct posture...), the patient's cooperation and ability ability to read the doctor's results. The amount of X-rays taken when taken can be harmful, especially to subjects like pregnant women.

2. What do chest x-ray results mean?

Cardiopulmonary X-ray results in clinical practice help doctors make a pathological diagnosis, guide the diagnosis or rule out other pathologies in the diagnosis. Here are some of the meanings that chest x-ray brings:
Identify lung pathology: Cardiopulmonary x-ray can detect tumors that are not covered by other organs; Inflammatory conditions such as bronchitis, pneumonia, lung abscess...; bronchial asthma, pulmonary effusion; pneumothorax; lung collapse. In addition, chest X-ray also supports the detection of chronic lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, or related complications. Help orient and distinguish some other diseases that are easily confused with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Monitoring response to treatment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma. See abnormalities in the lungs that are caused by the heart such as congestive heart failure causing acute pulmonary edema. Changes in the size and shape of the heart such as an enlarged heart (in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, pericardial effusion, etc.), a small heart balloon (emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease..), atrial enlargement. Right, large left atrium, large ventricle... Vascular abnormalities: From the chest X-ray results, it can show abnormalities of the aortic arch, pulmonary artery, superior and inferior vena cava from there. Help doctors diagnose conditions such as aortic aneurysms or birth defects. Fractures: Post-traumatic fractures such as rib fractures, clavicle fractures. Helps to diagnose the location of the broken bone, whether there is bone displacement, the condition of the area around the fracture site. Changes after treatment or surgery: Shows the ability to recover after performing heart or lung surgery or treatment. Check the placement of the machine: Pacemaker, defibrillator, catheter.

3. What should be noted when taking a chest x-ray?

Chest X-ray is painless, simple and non-invasive, but in order to ensure accurate results, in addition to the technician's technique and the doctor's ability to read, the patient also needs to note a few things to coordinate: Best case:
When going to the doctor, you should bring documents related to the previous medical examination, test sheet, previous X-ray results if any, so that in some cases the doctor needs to have a comparison. between shots to draw conclusions. Note that X-rays can be harmful to the fetus, so it is necessary to inform the doctor if you suspect that you are pregnant or are pregnant to avoid the bad effects of X-rays on the fetus. Patients will be changed into ready-made clothes at the hospital to take pictures. When you go, you should wear simple clothes. Remove metal objects that affect the film such as rings, rings, hairpins, glasses... Sometimes the X-ray film can't make a final diagnosis, the doctor can order it. you do additional diagnostic imaging facilities. Although chest x-ray is very simple, it is of high value in diagnosing chest diseases, helping to monitor treatment. This method also has some limitations, which are overcome by more advanced paraclinical methods, but it is still considered an effective and simple way to do the first thing when the patient has abnormal signs. at the chest.
Above is information about chest X-ray technique and hope to answer your questions about the question "Diseases that can be diagnosed early by chest X-ray". Always pay attention to regular health check-ups to detect dangerous cardiopulmonary diseases early. From there, a timely treatment solution can be obtained.
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